Stating the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to be “biased,” the Karnataka government opted on Thursday to revoke the agency’s general authorization to investigate cases within the state.
The state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, made the decision, which was announced to the media by HK Patil, the minister of law and legislative affairs.
“The notification granting general consent for CBI to probe criminal cases in Karnataka state, under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, has been withdrawn,” he stated.
As per legal provisions, the state government’s agreement is mandatory for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out investigations within its jurisdiction.
According to PTI, “It has been done because it is clear that the CBI or the central government while using their instrumentalities are not using them judiciously. So, case-by-case, we will verify and give (consent for CBI probe); general consent has been withdrawn,” CM stated.
He went on to say that the choice to defend the CM in the MUDA case was not made.
“On CM there is a court order for the Lokayukta probe, so there is no such question,” he stated.
He claimed there were other instances of CBI abuse. He stated that in a number of the Karnataka cases, the agency had not filed chargesheets.
He went on, “They (the CBI) refused to file chargesheets and they refused to look into countless mining cases.”
In the meantime, CM Siddaramaiah declared today that he would not be leaving his position in the wake of the MUDA fraud charges.
“I won’t resign; why should I resign? There are allegations against HD Kumaraswamy, did he resign? Let Kumaraswamy resign. Has Modi taken the resignation of Kumaraswamy,” he further stated.
DK Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister, also offered his thoughts.
“I think it is all a political drama which they are trying to do. There are a lot of cases against several central ministers and other leaders of the BJP. Have all of them resigned? There is no need for the CM to resign… Being the party president, I am telling you there is no question of CM resigning,” Siddaramaiah said.